PET vs CAT scans which should I do?

jeml · New User Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

Hi there,

I have yet to be diagnosed but I am wondering what test(s) I should have done. I am considering the PET scan or is CT good enough?

Thanks.

Tuesdayk

I've never had a PET scan but Ive had many CT scans.
I cant really compare them but I can describe a CT scan. Very Happy

Basially just drink 15-16 oz of barium which the taste varies from hospital to hospital but they all taste equally shitty.
Then you get injected with iodine which made ME break out.
Well theres my short story.
The drinking takes about a half an hour and the scan takes about 15 mins or less?

brainman

jeml, the two are good for different things so it really depends on the cancer. I do not know which is best for Lymphomas although I would imagine a PET scan would be better. As your medical team for there advice and follow their recommendations.

Tuesdayk, I believe what you described IS a PET scan. A CT scan does not use a radioactive isotope of iodine... at least none of the ones I have had. I am sorry you had an allergic reaction to the Iodine.

Regards to both of you.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Tuesdayk

Those too must be really alike because Ive never had a PET scan just a CT scan...

brainman

Some centers use a combination of the two since a PET scan does not show soft tissue whereas a CT scan does. Basically it is like overlaying one with the other so the doctors can tell with more certainty were the "hot spots" are located. This may be what you have had, Tuesdayk.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Corvette · Regular Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 29 Location: North GA

I get full body PET scans twice a year. I have also had several CAT scans. The cat scan is where they can use oral and intravenous contrast and the process only takes a few minutes. This process will identify tumors or masses in the body.

The PET scan takes much longer and you are injected with a radioactive serum. After the injection you have to wait about an hour for it migrate through your body. Then you probably will be given a cat scan followed by the PET scan. For a full body PET scan you will lay still for for about 20 minutes as the bed move very slowly in increments through the donut. The CAT scan looks for areas in the body that take up an abnormal amount of the radioactive serum which might indicate a cancer.
_________________
Wayne
Male 56 years old
NHL Folicular Large Cell
Two years of Chemo followed by a SCT
Cancer free for almost two and a half years!

Boldelly · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:14 am Post subject: Pet and CT Scans

Randi goes to MD Anderson in Houston a large very good cancer center and they do the PET and the CT. The CT can tell the size of the mass and the PET can tell where the cancer is and what the uptake or how much of the isotope it takes up. Like Randi still has uptake of 2.5 in the mass in her chest but they say it is minimal uptake. The CT scan tells that the mass is 4 cm x 3.3 cm. She has had all types of scans for diagnosis and staging in the beginning. She had PET/CT, bone scan, gallium scan, chest x-ray and biopsy. I really think it is who you are going to as to what type of scans they do. She started out at UTMB in Galveston and received her treatment there and they do their PET and CT scans together, but when we switched to MD Anderson in Houston they say they perfer that the PET be done separate from the CT and they usually do not do the Gallium scan it is an older scan but some like to still use it. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Laurie

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lymphoma - Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others